Cumberland Place, Southampton
This landmark office building in Southampton’s central business district was acquired in 2014 for clients. The building had suffered from decades of under investment and its future as an office building looked uncertain.
At the time, most redundant office buildings were being converted to residential use. Ashville were however keen to transform this building and realise its potential as a modern, high class office environment.
In 2015 a new extended stylish reception area was created with touchdown areas along with a new business lounge with café zone. In addition, the vacant offices benefited from an upgrade and refurbishment ready for new tenants.
Formerly Queens Keep it was re-branded as White Building to remove any historic negative connotations mark the new era of this city centre office building.
Supporting a healthy workforce something that Ashville wanted to encourage. New stylish showers, changing facilities, lockers, and a drying room, along with secure cycle storage and a bike repair station were therefore also added to the building’s facilities.
White Building was quickly fully let and in 2016 received awards for ‘Working Environment of the Year’, ‘Development of the Year (South Coast Property Awards) and ‘Highly Commended’ in RICS Property Awards.
2025 saw a further improvement and a new transformation to include upgraded tenants’ communal facilities and improved green credentials.
The new improvements included a redesign of the large reception area, a new extended and re-developed tenants lounge with its own in-house deli and upgraded break-out spaces throughout the building. All the communal spaces also benefited from architecturally and interior designed finishes and furnishings to create a stylish and comfortable finish.
In addition to improving the working environment the landlord also installed new thermally efficient curtain walling, new highly insulated roofs and installation of nearly 100 solar panels to secure an EPC A rating.
The available office workspaces also saw significant investment with fully fitted stylish spaces being created with meeting rooms, kitchens and comfort cooling. The workspaces have been carefully furnished to create both a practical and stylish workplace ready for immediate occupation.
In recognition of this White Building was awarded Landlord of the Year in the 2025 South Coast Property Awards
A video of White Building can be seen HERE
